Hayward man found critically injured outside Fremont BART station

FREMONT -- A 52-year-old Hayward man is in critical condition after being discovered with severe head trauma outside the Fremont BART station early Wednesday morning, officials said.

A BART employee arrived at 3:20 a.m. to open the station for the day and discovered the man on the west side of the station with a serious head injury, BART police deputy chief Ben Fairow said. Fremont police arrived at the station shortly before BART police, and found the man alive but unresponsive.

The victim, who has not been identified pending notification of the family, was taken to Eden Hospital before being airlifted to the UC Davis Trauma Center, Fairow said. His injuries are considered life-threatening.

BART police did not immediately release the nature of the head injury, but are certain that the man is a victim of foul play.

"A crime definitely occurred here," Fairow said. "And it's at an odd hour, there's a really small window of time the station is closed."

Police are reviewing the station's surveillance tapes, but do not yet have any leads as to a suspect or a motive, Fairow said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call BART police detectives at 510-464-7040, or the anonymous tip line at 510-464-7040.